Student Spotlight: Abby Strong

Abby Strong knew from a young age she wanted to help others. Growing up in the small town of North Cambria, Pa., she was determined to give back to her community, even when faced with her own challenges.

One of four kids, Strong’s parents divorced during her childhood. After her parents separated, her dad kept the house, but her mother got custody. This left the family struggling to find housing.

“That’s when my mom needed help the most…and she heard about the local Johnstown Housing Authority,” Strong said

With the help of the Johnstown Housing Authority, Strong’s family found safe and affordable housing. The Johnstown Housing Authority not only assisted with housing, but they also provided information on scholarship opportunities.

“As we [her siblings] got into high school, they just constantly would send us applications and they have a website for scholarships,” Strong said.

Throughout high school, Strong worked hard towards her goal of attending college and helping others. She participated in a variety of afterschool activities – she played soccer, ran track, and belonged to several science extracurricular clubs. Strong had always been fascinated by science so in high school, she shadowed a nurse and immediately fell in love with the profession. Nursing allowed her to help others and tap into her compassionate side.

“I loved the occupation. I loved how they communicated with people and the differences they made and how they were really there when people needed it the most,” Strong said.

Strong’s real-life experience of shadowing a nurse struck a nerve and she could not wait to put on her own set of scrubs and assist patients. Looking for a way to accelerate the process she spoke with her high school guidance counselor about dual enrollment at a local college.

“When I have a goal, I just am very motivated to get there,” Strong said.

Starting in her junior year of high school, Strong took two classes a semester at the nearby Indiana University of Pennsylvania, maintaining a 4.0 in all her dual enrollment classes.

Strong graduated high school with her freshman year of college already completed. She achieved her goals and was officially accepted into the nursing program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania during her senior year of high school.

A student during the COVID-19 pandemic, Strong, like so many students had to adapt to a vastly different college experience. During her sophomore year, her clinicals were canceled and instead, she and three other students met in an empty dorm room once a week for three hours and practiced on mannequins.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic only strengthened Strong’s desire to become a nurse.

“I feel like nurses are the backbones of the hospital system. And just being at such a time where there’s such a nursing shortage, and everyone needs help, desperately, it just made me wish I was further along and could help them more,” Strong said.

As a result of her academic success and determination in high school, Strong was chosen as a 2020 NAHRO Merit and NAHRO LDG scholar.

The NAHRO Merit College Scholarship awards $1,000 each to eight scholars, one from each NAHRO region, who are pursuing their first post-secondary degree. Each NAHRO region submits an applicant of their choice from their own scholarship program. If no regional scholarship program is in place, the region will select one eligible applicant to complete the NAHRO Merit College Scholarship application. The regions’ scholarship applications then are judged by the NAHRO Scholarship Committee, which is comprised of Housing America Advisory Committee members.

From these eight scholarship winners, the NAHRO Scholarship Committee will choose three candidates to become a part of the NAHRO-LDG Scholars program, which is a 10-year venture that will provide $1 million in scholarships and internship opportunities to low-income students from around the country and is funded by the award-winning multi-family housing developer, LDG Development.

Strong was thrilled when she found out she’d earned the scholarships. She is on track to graduate with a nursing degree this December, completing her college degree in just two and a half years. The NAHRO scholarships allowed Strong to take summer classes and progress towards her degree faster. She has been able to focus more on her education and less on financial burdens.

Strong encourages others to never give up on their dreams and to take opportunities such as NAHRO’s scholarship program.

“Take every opportunity you have for help, and never give up on your goals, even when faced with hard challenges such as COVID-19,” Strong said.

She hopes to work in psychiatric nursing following graduation. Helping others and giving back to the community remains her top priority.